Display apparatus



Feb. 9, 1932.

R. M. CRAlG DISPLAY APPARATUS Original F i led Dec. 29, 1925 au-ua-utoz cnu'a.

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD M. CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THOMAS W. MENEFEE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS DISPLAY APPARATUS Original application filed December 29, 1925, Serial No. 78,248. Divided and this application filed January 7, 1929, Serial No. 330,937.

This invention relates to display apparatus and more'particularly to an advertising sign of the type disclosed in Patent'No. 1,t 398,223, issued January 8, 1929., and of which the present application constitutes a division.

' One object of the invention is to provide a sign having figures painted thereon, in'

pigment colors against a neutral back.- ground, other advertising matter being also '10 painted upon the sign in pigment colors and the sign being illuminated by lights emitting spectral colors, having such relation to the pigment colors and so controlled that when the sign is inoperation a figure will appear to move across the sign board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for not onlyprodueing the efiect of apparent continuous motion or continuous change in appearance of the subject matter to be displayed, but also displaying the subject matter under pleasing colored lighting conditions, so that, as anadvertising medium, the surface to be .displayed attracts immediate attention because of the presence of the factors of colored light illumination and animation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, and in the description which is to follow, the inventionhas been illustrated and will be described as applied toadvertising displays, but the principles of the invention are by no means limited to this particular use as they may find embodiment in displays of various characters, and, therefore, what is illustrated and described is to be considered merely as representative of concrete embodiments of the inventive idea and not as restricting the invention to the specific disclosure.

In the description, reference will be made to fdisplay surface and this term is intended to cover any surface of any character whatsoever upon which there is represented matter to be displayed-and regardless of the character of the said matter. ,Where' reference is made to light rays having diiferent ly the same but possess such spectral or color acteristics such as are peculiar to primary colors, and Which remain of about the same apparent density under complementary or primary light ray illumination.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the background areas are of contrasting neutral colors and the display surface is indicated in general by the numeral 19 and has applied thereto suitable pigments of neutral colors to provide background areas indicated one by the numeral 20 and the other by the numeral 21. In this instance, the background area 20 may be black or of any other dark neutral color as for example, dark gray, tobacco brown or Indian red, and the background area 21 is white in color or of any other light neu-.

tral color. It will'be noted that the background areas 20 and 21 are ofcontrasting neutral colors, image representations 22 are painted or otherwise represented in red pigment Within the background area 20 and represent successive positions assumed by a perelectric light bulbs of a red color, indicated 'by the numeral 25, are arranged above the display surface, each above'a respective one of the image representations 22, and blue light bulbs 24 are arranged alternately with the red light bulbs and, therefore, occupy posit-ions above the spaces between relative- 1y adjacent ones of the image representations 22, the red light bulbs 25 being preferably shielded by suitable shielding reflectors as indicated by the numeral 26.

The numeral 27 indicates, in general a source of current supply from one side of which there is led a conductor wire 28 connected to one terminal of each of the sockets for the red light bulbs 25 and blue light bulbs 24, and from the other side'of which there is led a conductor wire 29 connected to the other terminals of the sockets for all of the blue light bulbs 24. A conductor wire 30 is likewise led from the last mentioned side of the source of current supply to the shaft 31 of an automatic flasher indicated by the numeral 32, which, may be of any of the wellknown types suitable for the purpose.- The numeral 33 indicates a flasher disc which is of insulating material, in this instance, and is mounted concentric to the shaft 31 and carries upon its face a plurality of contacts 34 to be successively engaged by a contact arm 35 fixed upon the shaft 31, conductor wires 36 being led from the contacts 34 to the other terminals of the sockets for the red light bulbs 24.

It will now be observed by reference to the drawing, that, when the display apparatus is in operation, all of the blue light bulbs 24 will be simultaneously and continuously lighted or energized so that the entire display surface is flooded with blue light rays. Therefore, the image representations 22 which are in red will be obliterated inasmuch as they are upon a dark neutral background and likewise inasmuch as the s ectral rays under which the images are disp ayed are of a color complementary to the color in which the images are represented, and, on the other hand, the matter 23 which is depicted in red pigment will stand out substantially black against the white or light neutral background area 21. However, as the flasher 32 is operated, the red light bulbs 25 will be successively lighted in order extending from the right hand end of the display surface to the left hand end thereof and, therefore, the image representations 22 will be successively brought to view individually, the images ap pearing, through contrast with the dark background area 20, substantially a vivid white and possessing marked brilliancy, due to such contrast. As previously pointed out there is a contrast of background areas in neutralcolors and it will be observed that the images 22 as well as the matter 23 are both represented in the same pigment color or, in other words, pigment colors having no visible spectral difference.

I have therefore provided a sign which will attract the eye of a person and hold his attention for a comparatively long length of time.

What is claimed is 1. Means for displaying the effect of continuous motion comprising a display surface having a background of a dark neutral color, the said surface bearing, within the bounds tinuous motion comprising a display surface 4 having a background of a dark neutral color, the said surface hearing, within the bounds of said background, a series of representations of an image in a distinctive pigment color and representing different positions of movement of the image, means for displaying the whole of said surface under light rays of a spectral color in contrast with the color in which the images are represented, and means for displaying said image representations successively and individually under light rays of a color corresponding to the color in which the image is represented.

3. Means for displaying the effect of continuous motion comprising a display surface having a background of a dark neutral color, the said surface bearing, within the bounds of said background, a series of representations of an'image in a distinctive pigment color and representing diflerent positions of movement of the image, means for displaying the whole of said surface under light rays of a spectral color in contrast with the color in which the images are represented, and means for displaying said image representations successively and individually under spectral light rays of a color in contrast with the color of the first mentioned rays and not absorbable by the pigment color in which said images are represented, the said surface having a background area of a light neutral color, the said light neutral background area -bearing matter to be represented and which matter is depicted in the same color as that in which the image is represented.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

RICHARD M. CRAI [n s] 

